Hand-protector.



D. S. CURTISS.

HAND PROTECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 8. I916- Patented May8,1917.

WITNESSES:

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sm- :0 rmrrounm. Iusu DANTE S. CURTISS, OF ORILLIA, WASHINGTON.

HAND-PROTECTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented "Way 5 15%? Application filed April 8, 1916. Serial No. 89,787.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that T, DAATE S. Crnrrrss, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Urillia, in the county of King and State of lVashington, have invented a new and Improved HancLPr-otector, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to a protector for the front of the hand and adapted for use by market men in handling various mat rial, as well as barrels, boxes, etc., and by workmen generally, in the handling of hard or rough materials.

Objects of the invention are to provide a hand. covering of a form to afford required freedom of movement of the hand. and fingers; to provide a maximum protective area with economy of material; to provide an article of the indicated character especially a} plicable to a gloved hand; and to provide for the securing and the removal of the arcteetor with facility.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification in which similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing my improved hand protector in use;

Fig. 2 is aface view of the protector;

Fig. 3 is a back view thereof.

In forming a protector in accordance with my invention, the same is made essentially flat and is formed of a piece of leather, fabric, or other suitable flexible material, to provide a broad palm portion 10, and a wrist portion 11. At the front, the material is divided longitudinally at the approximate cen ter by slitting to produce two forwardly projecting finger members 12, each of a width to amply cover two fingers of the hand.

A. wrist strap 13 is provided, which preferably, is made of elastic cord and given the form of a loop. One end of the strap is permanently secured to the wrist portion 11 at one side of the protector on the face thereof as at 14. I provide adjustable means to detachably fasten the strap to the protector, at the opposite side of the wrist, on the face thereof. Said means may consist of a button or equivalent enlargement 15 on the strap 13 and a hook fastener 16 on the proteeter similar to hook fasteners on shoes and gloves. The device 15, in the form shown, has a dome-shaped body on the back of which is atongue 15 clamped to the material of the strap 13 with sutlicient friction A transverse strap 17, preferably of elastic material, is disposed on the protector at the back of the palm portion in front of the thumb formation, hereinafter described, said strap being permanently secured. at both ends by any suitable fasteners 18.

On the back of each finger member 12, a

transverse strap 19 is applied, the ends being secured in any suitable manner as by stitching. 20, the said straps being of lengths to provide room beneath the same for two fingers.

A. thumb opening is formed in the protector by producing an elliptic slit 21 therein, thereby leaving an elliptic flap 22 joined at one end with the palm portion 10. The flap 22 constitutes a thumb protector whe pressed through the thumb opening to the front. At the base of the flap 22 a reinforce 23 is applied and secured by stitching The reinforce 23 is slitted from the back edge as at 25, thereby dividing the rear portion of the reinforce and thus permitting the reinforce to spread and open at the said slit, whereby the protecting flap and the reinforce will assume a smooth iormation in conforming to the shape and movements of the thumb. The rear edge, at each side of the slit 25, is curved rearwardly providing separate protecting members, 26, 27, when the article is worn. By thus forming the reinforce 23, it provides an ample backing over a sutlicicnt area of the thumb flap while permitting the maximum freedom of movement of the thumb flap in response to the movements of the thumb. A thumb strap 28 is secured to the flap 22 at the back, the ends of the strap being permanently sewed. or otherwise fastened.

The several straps 17, 19, 28, have the ends turned under in securing the same so that the fastened ends are covered. The straps 19 and 28, like the strap 17 are preferably of elastic material.

The described form and arrangement of the parts entering into the protector are par ticularly advantageous in facilitating the application of the latter to a gloved hand.

Having thus described my invention I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A hand protector formed of flexible material in flat form, presenting a palm portion, a transverse strap permanently secured at both ends at the back of the palm portion, a centrally divided front end portion presenting finger members, each adapted to afford protection for tWo fingers, separate transverse straps on said finger members at the backs thereof, each permanently secured at its ends, a Wrist strap permanently secured to the Wrist portion at one side of the protector, co-aeting fastener members on the protector at the opposite side and on the Wrist strap, the member on the strap being longitudinally adjustable, the said protector having a thumb opening, a thumb flap permanently held to the protector at the front end of the opening, a transverse strap on. said flap, and a reinforce member secured to the face of the protector at the base of the thumb flap and extending partially around the opening and overlapping the thumb flap, the said reinforce having a slit in the said overlapping portion extending from the unsecured edge of the reinforce.

2. A hand protector formed of flexible material in substantially flat form and including a palm portion, a strap on the protector at the back of the palm portion, a Wrist portion, a strap for fastening said Wrist portion, finger members at the front of the palm portion, separate straps on said finger members at the back, said protector having a thumb opening, a thumb flap on the protector at the opening, and a reinforce secured to the protector at the base of the thumb flap and extending around the said opening at the front, the said reinforce having a free portion overlapping the thumb flap, said free portion being slitted and presenting separate flap members at each side of said slit, the said thumb flap extending beyond the slitted portion of the reinforce.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

DANTE S. CURTISS.

Witnesses:

C. CLINTON BENNETT,

IDA A. WoLD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of latents, Washington, I). G. 

